Joseph J. Shanley

November 30, 2012 - 2:00 AM

PORTSMOUTH — Joseph John Shanley, 59, died Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. Joe was born on May 30, 1953, in Boston, Mass. He was the son of James and Joanne Shanley. He was married to his loving wife, Cindi, for 33 years and had one daughter, Tristan, who recently married Michael Riestenberg.

Joe attended Saint Patrick School of Portsmouth, where he was the favorite pet of the Sisters. At Saint Thomas Aquinas High School of Dover, Joe, a diligent student, found time to become a star athlete and make the 1971 N.H. All-State football team. Joe attended Lehigh University and the University of New Hampshire. At Lehigh, he was famous for his acerbic wit and creative antics. His tenure as fraternity social chairman was legendary.

Joe was the owner of Shanley Realtors and Auctioneers, LLC and was a very active member of the Seacoast community. He was past president of the New Hampshire Realtors Association, director of the Northern New England Real Estate Network, and member of the New Hampshire Commercial Investment Board of Realtors. He was the inaugural recipient of the Eileen D. Foley award for World Peace issued by Friends Forever. Joe was also the recipient of the Spirit of Seacoast Volunteer Award in 2007-2008 and received the Paul E. Harris Award from the Portsmouth Rotary Club.

As master of ceremonies at the Annual Friends Forever St. Patrick's Day Roast, Joe's gifts of humor and storytelling were on full display. He was the highlight of the evening. Joe's sense of humor and quick wit were his stock in trade. He was the opening act for celebrated comedian Steven Wright at the Music Hall for the benefit of Cross Roads House. With his auctioneering talents, Joe raised millions of dollars in support of local agencies. Among them are The Foundation for Seacoast Health, City Year, Special Olympics, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, New Generation, Inc., UNH Athletics, American Heart Association, Portsmouth Lions Club, Portsmouth New Hampshire School System, and Friends Forever. For over thirty years, Joe gave generously to a multitude of nonprofit organizations.

Joe is the son of James A. Shanley and the late Joanne Hazzard Shanley. He is survived by his wife Cindi, whom he adored, and his daughter Tristan, the light of his life, and her husband Michael Riestenberg; his stepmother, Marie Downing; his brother James and wife Karen Battles; sister Mary Jane Keane and husband Thomas and their four children Jonathan, Matthew, Kevin and Thomas; sister Brenda and husband John Strucker; brother Michael and wife Luba Afanasyeva; his brother-in-law, Scott Pappas and children Megan and Missy; his sister-in-law, Kassha St. Jean and husband John and children Nicholas, Ashley and Taylor; and his beloved aunts, Mary Ellen Serino and Martha Shanley Hass.

SERVICES: The family extends its invitation to attend a celebration of Joe's life at 10 a.m. on Dec. 8 at the Wentworth by the Sea Hotel, New Castle, N.H. In lieu of flowers, please donate in Joe's memory to any of the above mentioned charities.